Results of a nationwide survey conducted by PayScale.com and published in The Wall Street Journal place engineering majors atop the list of salaries in post-graduation jobs. Engineering majors nationwide averaged $56,000 annually in their first full-time positions after graduation, well ahead of liberal arts students.

PayScale.com surveyed 11,000 respondents nationwide who graduated between 1999 and 2010. Starting salaries were adjusted for inflation to make the salaries from graduates of different years compararable.

The pay advantage of graduates with engineering and other technical degrees often continues throughout their careers, the Journal reported.